Just a quick one! I’ve just discovered a great new smoothie and wanted to share it with you.

Blueberry, Banana & Cashew Butter Smoothie.

♥ 2 x small-medium ripe bananas
♥ 2 large cups of cold filtered water
♥ 1 x cup (or more!) frozen blueberries
♥ 1 x heaped teaspoon of Organic Cashew Butter (yum yum yum)

Mix this all up in your blender for a minute, it’ll make 2 large glasses full. I love the extra bit of creaminess that the cashew butter gives it and it’s a great way to add some extra protein.

I think I’ll be rockin’ this smoothie before and after workouts as I felt pretty good after drinking this pretty purple drink.

If you try it out let me know what you think!

Be well,

Annette

xoxo

♥

The scents we surround ourselves with have a huge impact on how we feel, the other day I came across (for the first time in a looooong time) the earthy, metallic smell of sprinklers on a hot day and was immediately taken back to age 7, running around the backyard through sprinklers with a friend.

I’m sure you can think of some too! The smell of Mum’s moisturiser, freshly baked biscuits, the perfume of an old lover… scents are powerful little molecules!

It’s with this in mind that I propose we all need to have the most fantastic soap / body wash possible, one that makes you want to run to the shower and never leave, filling you with feelings of hope, pleasure and wellbeing.

So! I’d like to invite you into my shower to have a mosey around and check out some of the beautiful body washes that are currently rockin’ my world…

Philosophy Melon Daiquiri Shampoo, Bubble Bath & Shower Gel!

Starting out with one of my absolute faves! Melon Daiquiri means I’ve been smelling like tangy melon for months now and absolutely love it. My mouth is actually watering writing about it!

Cinnamon Buns Shampoo, Bubble Bath & Shower Gel!

My 2nd Philosophy go-to makes my morning shower smell like a warm bakery (and also makes it incredibly difficult to leave!), this one is currently not available through Australian online stores, but you can find it at Sephora if you love the sound of it.

If you’re not aware of the Philosophy range of products you MUST do yourself a favour and check them out!

Coming in an amazing range of true-scents, you’ll wonder how you ever got by without smelling like your favourite fruit or dessert, I’ve previously had the Raspberry Sorbet & Strawberry Milkshake flavours and can highly reccomend them too 🙂

This Works! In the Zone.

Blending Frankincense & Eucalyptus scents, In the Zone by This Works is like a pep-talk for when you’re feeling exhausted or run down. The newest addition to my crowded shower, ITZ has carved a place among my top used products because it’s perfect for all your pre and post busy day issues.

♥ Don’t want to be awake? It helps invigorate and get your morning off to a fab start.

♥ Rough day at the office? In the Zone is there massaging your shoulders and telling you you’re a trooper.

♥ Feeling run down or just exercised your butt off? The little white bottle is smiling at you knowingly.

I adore it and I think you will too.

While these body washes may be a little more pricey than your $5 number from Woolies, (Philosophy – RRP $38 & This Works RRP $48) I believe it’s worth the price to have an amazing smell and experience that will last you long past the time you’ve hung up your towel (or in my case, left it on the floor in a heap) and I haven’t personally found a cheapie that gets me going quite like these guys!

Philosophy & This Works products available from Mecca Cosmetica, online and in store.

How about you…

What’s your favourite shower gel / body wash?
Do you like to spend up or be thrifty when it comes to cleaning yourself?

Would love to hear!

Be well,

Annette

xoxo

Milky Foot

After a long winter of hibernating beneath boots and tights, my feet were looking a little rough and neglected. Not being the kind of girl to shell out $80 on a pedicure, I was eager to try ‘Milky Foot’. This product claims to create milky smooth feet without any scrubbing or exfoliating, with just one application. It sounded too good to be true!

After washing my feet I cut open the two packages and slipped my feet into the gel-filled plastic pouches, putting socks on over the top. There was quite a strong chemical smell to the gel, similar to hair bleach, which made me worry a little as to whether this would burn. However after my 60-90 minutes of foot-soaking I was relieved to see I still had all ten toes. I took off the plastic pouches, rinsed my feet and hands and commenced the waiting game.

‘Milky Foot’ claims to begin working in about 5-10 days, and after 5 days I noticed skin beginning to peel from the areas of hard skin. It was pretty unpleasant to look at, and I endured around 5 more days of skin slipping from the soles of my feet. After the peeling subsided I was left with the results promised, and now have heels as soft as a baby’s behind.

Applying ‘Milky Foot’ was very easy, and I liked the fact that there was no hard work involved. If you can live with peeling feet for around a week, I would recommend ‘Milky Foot’ as an effortless alternative to home or salon pedicures.

It retails in selected pharmacies for $29.95 (small) or $34.95 (large).

Or can be purchased online here: Buy Milky Foot!

Review by Katy Lock

Be well,

xoxo

Am I the only one that craves that kind of hair that you have when you first leave the hairdressers? That hair that just seems to behave so well, sit so damn fine and even sustains the nastiest of weather conditions? That hair that just… well… that just doesn’t seem to be yours? I’m sure I’m not the only one. I think I’m not alone in this quest for this thing that I seek …yes friends… manageability .I’m also pretty sure its got something to do with your hair being a consistent team player and I’m doubly pretty sure that that has got a whole lot to do with keeping it in tip top condition.

Something that I have discovered recently that can really help with this is your humble hair mask (and you thought they were only for your face!) and what better time to take a look at one now that Summer is upon us and the sun, sea and pool are going to try their dandiest to lure your tresses into all out fuzz ball mode. Alchemy has such a hair mask currently on the market, namely a ‘Gingko and Jojoba Intensive Moisture Vitamin Masque’ . While being paraben and sulfate free (this means no irritants that cause the product to foam up) as well as containing protecting ingredients such as avocado oils and white tea, this product is all about giving you that manageability that we all so badly need/want/desire. Who would’ve thought we would go to so much bother for a bunch of dead skins cells…

So the deal with this is:

♥ Wash your hair
♥ Towel dry it
♥ Put this all over your hair and then leave it for anywhere from 5 minutes to overnight.

I didn’t do the overnight option (the thought of rolling around on my pillows and sheets made the clean freak in me, just…freak) but I did try the more manageable 5- 30-minute spell.

Basically, this works. The longer you leave it the better. And why shouldn’t it? Anything as thick as this and filled with as many good things as this AND kept on your hair for longer than you would leave your average conditioner is going to work. It makes sense right? It makes your hair sit better, feel smoother and lighter (not weighed down by too much product) and it smells so lovely. Addictively so! (I used the whole bottle in three weeks because I wanted my hair to smell like this forever). This product can be used as often as you like UNTIL you gain that manageability and then twice a week from then on.

It’s suitable for straight hair, permed hair or coloured hair, its Australian owned, vegan and it’s not tested on animals. Now- if there’s not something that appeals to you out of ALL OF THAT, then have a great time trying to manage that rat bag head of hair of yours until you come to your senses.

Alchemy Gingko and Jojoba Intensive Moisture Vitamin Masque retails for $17.95.

Article by Adriane Daff, I’ve seen her hair. It’s good.

Be well,

xoxo

This glorious sunny Saturday just past marked the first of hopefully many Cruelty Free Festivals’ held at the Earthwise centre in Subiaco.

As you can see from the photo above, vegan cakes & sweets were out in full force, as were helpful advocates giving out informative flyers & pamphlets about cruelty free living.

The main focus though was the food, proving what most already knew – it is possible to eat delicious food without the use of animal products.

Lunch in the form of mock meats, vegetable curries, spring rolls and rice dishes (I also spied mango flavoured sweets just out of this picture!)

Peach muffins & custard fruit tarts (these were both GREAT!), chocolate + green tea cheesecake, melting moments plus a couple other things I wasn’t sure of… keep in mind there are no animal products in any of these, which is pretty amazing / awesome!

Here’s a photo of the wood-fired pizza magic happening, I didn’t get a chance to test these out but there were some winning combinations happening and I’m kicking myself for filling up on chocolate cupcakes before I saw this.

There were many wares to be found including heaps of books, stickers, shoes, tees & hoodies, vegan dog treats (!!!), snacks and so much more.

One well known healthy living company that made the trip up from down South was Samudra.

Here are some of the goodies that they had on display:

As you can see, these snacks look great and they are all amazingly good for you! Aside from selling these treats, Samudra also run yoga and surfing getaways in Dunsborough, well worth a look.

The bands playing kept the spirit lively outside and if you ventured into the back corner there were vegan cooking demonstrations being held inside if you could tear yourself away from the cakes for long enough.

All in all it was a lovely way to spend an afternoon, a fantastic new event and one I will be wholeheartedly supporting next year!

Many thanks to Animal Rights Advocates for organising it!

Did you go to the Cruelty Free Festival?

Ever tried a vegan cupcake?

Be well,

xoxo